Kick off the regular NHL regular season with the 2013-14 Caps Convention, a day-long interactive and informational celebration of the Capitals. This year 20 panels offering Caps fans an inside look into a specific area of hockey are scheduled.

The 2013 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO will feature some of the most anticipated panel discussions to date, including:

New for 2013 Caps Con: Capital One Bank Synthetic Ice Rink

Skate indoors at the Capitals Convention on the Capital One Bank Synthetic Ice Rink!
Sign up at The Convention to reserve your time slot. Skates will be provided.

Ping Pong Tournament

Hockey Dads

When players are away from the ice, they have a number of responsibilities. One of the most important ones is being a father. Caps players recount the stories, joys and tribulations of being a father. The players talk about balancing the important milestones of their children’s development while they’re plying their trade in arenas across the continent.

Locker Room Stories

Each player spends many hours in the locker before and after games and practices. Listen to them tell stories about each other: who is the biggest prankster, who is the messiest, who has the most hair products in their locker. Who spends the most getting ready before they leave the locker room?

Video session with Brett Leonhardt

During the course of a season, the Capitals and their coaches watch hours upon hours of game footage in preparation for upcoming games. Caps video coach Brett “Stretch” Leonhardt breaks down some game footage and discusses the use of video as a teaching tool.

Evolution of Hockey (players from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90’s and ‘00s)9:15-10 a.m.Yvon Labre, Dennis Maruk, Greg Adams, Sylvain Cote and Brendan Witt
Moderator: Ron WeberThe game of hockey and the NHL have both evolved and changed greatly over the last few decades. Hear from Caps’ players who played in the District during the team’s four-decade history as they discuss the changes in equipment, strategy, lifestyle and other aspects of the game over the last 40 years.

Capology IV10:30-11:15 a.m.Don Fishman and Mark Gandler
Moderator: John WaltonThe New CBA and the New Salary Cap: Caps Assistant General Manager Don Fishman will walk you through the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement and the new salary cap system. Cash in trades? Don will explain the new rules. Big contracts in the minors, re-entry waivers and back-diving contracts? No longer. Don dissects the ins and outs of compliance buyouts, term limits on player contracts, the lower salary cap and more.

Ted’s (Give and) Take
10:30-11:15 a.m.Ted LeonsisModerator: Mike WilbonCapitals majority owner Ted Leonsis discusses the Capitals, his role in Monumental Sports and his busy schedule of outside interests and pursuits. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions of Ted.

Player Safety with Brendan Shanahan
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.Brendan Shanahan
Moderator: Alan MayBack for a return engagement at Caps Convention, Brendan Shanahan is the NHL’s Senior VP of Player Safety and Hockey Operations. Shanahan will discuss the rules of the game, the nuances of player discipline and challenges of player safety. Shanahan’s long and elite NHL playing career resulted in his election to the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier this year.

The Road Goes On Forever11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.Ross MahoneyModerator: Mike VogelHockey is a winter sport, but the game is played virtually year-round and all over the globe. Caps Director of Amateur Scouting Ross Mahoney discusses the life of a pro hockey scout, his grueling schedule of travel, pursuit of prospects and the process of following and evaluating emerging young players and bringing talent into the organization.

Youth Hockey and Injury Prevention presented by Inova
12:30-1:15 p.m.Paul Mulvey, Dr. Cary Schwartzbach, Dr. Nilesh Vyas, Dr. Matt Levine
Moderator: Craig LaughlinDoes your son or daughter play youth hockey or interested in playing? Are you worried about injuries at such a young age? Come listen to you hockey coaches and the doctors from Inova hospitals discuss how to keep your kids safe while having fun playing the game of hockey.

Managing the Game12:30-1:15 p.m.
George McPhee
Moderator: Cakes – Sports JunkiesCaps general manger George McPhee is one of the longest tenured managers in the NHL. He is known for keeping things close to the vest when it comes to the Caps’ hockey operations department, but today he’ll offer some insight into the day-to-day operation of the team, the peaks and valleys of the season, what goes on in the war room and on draft day, the nuts and bolts of making and announcing trades and other behind-the-scenes glimpses.

Shattering Barriers in Hockey1:30-2:15 p.m.Joel Ward, Willie O’Ree
Moderator: Chick HernandezListen to hockey pioneer Willie O’Ree talk about life as the first African American to play in the NHL in the 1950s. Joel Ward and Anson Carter will discuss how O’Ree opened doors for each of them, where the game stands today and the hopes for overcoming racism down the road.

The NHL Today
1:30-2:15 p.m.Bill DalyModerator: Al KokenBill Daly, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Officer of the NHL, will discuss the state of the NHL both on and off the ice, how the league has grown to a multi-billion dollar business and its plans for the future

Ping Pong Tournament2-2:45 p.m.Mathieu Perreault, John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom, Marcus Johansson, Troy Brouwer and Karl AlznerThe ping pong table is a popular destination in the Capitals players’ lounge. Be sure to drop by as a handful of them compete head-to-head to determine which of them grabs bragging rights until next year’s convention.

Hockey Dads
2:50-3:25 p.m.Troy Brouwer, Jason Chimera, John Erskine and Jack Hillen
Moderator: Elliot SegalWhen players are away from the ice, they have a number of responsibilities. One of the most important ones is being a father. Caps players recount the stories, joys and tribulations of being a father, from explaining a fight to their kids to teaching them how to skate. The players also talk about balancing the important milestones of their children’s development while they’re plying their trade in arenas across the continent.

Kids Press Conference

2:50-3:25 p.m.

Braden Holtby, Steve OleksyThis popular panel returns with Caps goaltender Braden Holtby and defensemen Steve Oleksy sharing the twin hot seats. Kids aged 14 and under will have the unique opportunity to ask questions of these two young Capitals.

Going for the Gold
3:30-4:15 p.m.Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Michal Neuvirth, Beng Gustafsson, Peter Bondra and Rod Langway
Moderator: Joe BeninatiIt’s almost that time again, time for the winter Olympics and the always thrilling men’s ice hockey competition. The 2014 Olympics will be held in Ovechkin’s home country, with a handful of Capitals likely to be representing their native countries in pursuit of a gold medal. Panelists discuss the prestige of the Olympics and balancing that responsibility with the NHL campaign.

Video session with Brett Leonhardt
4:00-4:45 p.m.Brett LeonhardtDuring the course of a season, the Capitals and their coaches watch hours upon hours of game footage in preparation for upcoming games. Caps video coach Brett “Stretch” Leonhardt breaks down some game footage and discusses the use of video as a teaching tool.

Maintaining the Muscle4:00-4:45 p.m.Jay Beagle, Karl Alzner, Mark Nemish and Nutritionist Sue Saunders
Moderator: Alan MayAn NHL player’s body is crucial to his career, and honing and maintaining that vital tool is a year-round process. Listen to team nutritionist Sue Saunders and Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Nemish break down the different diets and workout routines for each player. Two of the Capitals’ most dedicated players in terms of fitness discuss the types of conditioning and diets that they tend to follow.

Cooking with Mike Green
4:30-5:00 p.mMike Green and Steve ManninoMike Green is two-time Norris Trophy nominee and a top defenseman in the NHL. But when Green is away from the game he has many varied hobbies including cooking. Watch Mike Green and Corporate Executive Chef, Steve Mannino, whip up a favorite dish or two. A lucky fan might even be able to try it out!

From the Ice to the Bench
5:00-5:45 p.mAdam Oates, Calle Johansson, Olie Kolzig and Blaine Forsythe)
Moderator: Joe BeninatiThe Capitals’ coaching staff is comprised of men who started out in the game as players and opted to stay close to the game they love as coaches. The Caps’ coaches discuss their transition from a uniform to a suit, go over coaching techniques and recount the grueling hours they put in during the course of the season.

The 2nd Season
5:00-5:45 p.mJohn Carlson, Marin Erat and Mathieu Perreault
Moderator: John WaltonPlayoff hockey is an entirely different entity from the grind of the 82-game NHL regular season. This trio of Capitals will discuss the differences between the playoffs and the regular season and what it takes to prepare mentally and physically for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Locker Room Stories6:00-6:45 p.mBrooks Laich, Eric Fehr and Aaron Volpatti
Moderator: Greg Wyshynski (Puck Daddy)Each player spends many hours in the locker before and after games and practices. Listen to them tell stories about each other: who is the biggest prankster, who is the messiest, who has the most hair products in their locker. Who spends the most getting ready before they leave the locker room?

Rigors of the season
6:00-6:45 p.mDr. Ben Shaffer, Greg Smith and Mark Nemish
Moderator: Mike VogelNHL players can play in approximately 100 games in less than a year over the course of a preseason, regular season and playoffs. A dedicated staff of trained professionals works in concert to ensure that players are as healthy as they can be for as many of those games as possible. The Caps’ Head trainer, strength conditioning coach and team doctor discuss what it takes to make sure the team is ready to take the ice every day during the season and when you must tell a player he is too injured to skate.